The Committee on Finance on Oct. 16 tabled a mayoral order seeking an appropriation of $175,000 to the waste collection and disposal purchase-of-services account and requested department leadership attend the next committee meeting to answer operational questions.

Administration briefing: Bob Ekstrom presented fiscal projections that showed the solid waste program could face a projected deficit if current tonnage and fees continue. He explained the department is operating under a new contract structure that increased base and tonnage-related costs: “If you take those numbers and you go straight line, project them out as if that first quarter is representative of the entire year… I’m right now looking at a $208,000 deficit,” Ekstrom said.

Council questions focused on the contract and procurement process. Councilor Brian Gomes asked what drove the increase compared with prior years; Ekstrom said earlier contracts had more favorable pricing and that market pricing since then had escalated, particularly for tonnage and recyclables handling. The department is seeking external consultant support to structure the next solicitation and budgeted roughly $25,000 for consultant services.

Vote and next steps: Councilor Naomi Carney moved to table the item; Councilor Joseph Lopes seconded. The motion to table passed. Committee members asked that Director Jennifer Viera (Department of Public Infrastructure) attend the next finance meeting to answer operational questions and that the administration provide related contract documents and bid/consultant details.

Ending: The committee left the $175,000 appropriation on the table pending additional briefings and documentation from the Department of Public Infrastructure.